Not exactly 'kidlit' – BUT definitely newsworthy! Each year, the current First Lady chooses a different illustrator to depict that year's holiday decor for their 24 page booklet that is given out to about 100,000 visitors during the White House holiday tours. This year, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden chose ME to be that illustrator! Her staff presented her with a selection of artists found on the SCBWI platform and something about my work struck a cord with Dr. Biden. What an honor and privilege to be entrusted with such an important project. I was given less than 3 months to depict several White House rooms decked out for the holidays - but the challenge was I had to do so just by descripions due to the fact the rooms are not actually decorated until Thanksgiving... after the book goes to print! The creative team at the White House was wonderful to work with and I am thrilled with how it came out. They flew me in for a private tour of the White House in August and I was able to return for the December 2nd reception where they unveiled the decor AND it was at that time I got to meet Dr. Biden in person! What a thrill and once-in-a-lifetime experience.